The latest season of the acclaimed Netflix series “The Crown” has recreated the heartbreaking moment when Prince Harry learned of his mother’s tragic death. The scene depicts Dominic West, portraying Prince Charles, breaking the devastating news to the young Prince Harry by entering his room and gently waking him up, saying, “Morning darling.” Charles then prepares Harry for the difficult truth, stating, “I’m afraid you’re going to have to be very brave.”
The camera pans to show Prince William standing at the foot of Harry’s bed, although historical accounts suggest the brothers were informed separately. The scene culminates with a close-up of Harry’s face, capturing his shocked and tearful expression upon receiving the life-altering news. This poignant recreation aligns with Prince Harry’s own account in his memoir “Spare,” where he described being alone in his bedroom at Balmoral when his father, then the Prince of Wales, sat him down on a bed to deliver the heartbreaking news of his mother’s passing.
In his memoir, Prince Harry provides an informative account of the emotional moments surrounding the tragic death of his mother, Princess Diana. He reveals that his father, Prince Charles, broke the devastating news to him, addressing him as “my dear son” before informing him that Diana was unlikely to survive the injuries sustained in the Paris car crash on August 31, 1997.
Harry portrays his father as emotionally distant, stating that Charles “was not good at expressing his emotions.” He vividly recalls the lack of emotional support, writing, “What I do remember with stunning clarity is that I did not cry. Not a tear. My father did not hug me.”
The book also sheds light on Harry’s desire to visit his mother in the hospital, but Charles explained that she “hasn’t recovered any more.” Harry recounts being confined to his room alone until the following morning.
Interestingly, Harry and his brother William were forbidden from watching television, keeping them unaware of the news coverage surrounding the car crash. For a period, Harry even harbored the belief that Diana had faked her own death to escape her “miserable” life.
Overall, Prince Harry’s memoir provides an informative and candid glimpse into the emotional turmoil he experienced as a young prince grappling with the tragic loss of his mother.
The upcoming season of the Netflix series “The Crown” delves into the tragic events surrounding the death of Princess Diana. The show depicts Dominic West, portraying Prince Charles, breaking the news to a young Prince Harry by entering his room and waking him with the words, “Morning darling.”
In his memoir, Prince Harry revealed that his 13-year-old self initially wondered if it was a “trick,” writing, “Her life’s been miserable, she’s been hounded, harassed, lied about, lied to. So she’s staged an accident as a diversion and run away.” However, he later acknowledged that this was not the case, but admitted to revisiting the theory as a source of comfort.
Reports suggest that Prince Harry will have a “sensitivity viewer” watch the new series to shield him from potentially traumatic content. The first four episodes are set to dramatize the lead-up to and aftermath of Diana’s death, including her last meeting with her sons.
Additionally, a newly released clip from the series shows the Princes missing a phone call from Diana, played by Elizabeth Debicki, on the day before her tragic demise while they were at Balmoral.
The upcoming season of the popular Netflix series “The Crown” promises to delve into the emotional aftermath of Princess Diana’s tragic death, offering a fictionalized portrayal of the events surrounding that fateful day. Among the pivotal moments depicted will be the imagined final conversation between the Princes and their mother, as well as the heart-wrenching moment when they were informed of her passing.
Despite the show’s focus on Diana’s death, sources suggest that Prince Harry is likely to watch the series, as he has previously expressed interest in the show and has even reportedly fact-checked its content. However, an insider has revealed that the royal family may choose to preview the episodes beforehand to shield Harry from any potentially distressing scenes.
In contrast, Prince William is unlikely to tune in, having previously voiced frustration over the show’s portrayal of the circumstances surrounding Diana’s controversial Panorama interview. The newly released clips offer a glimpse into the emotional turmoil, with scenes depicting Charles’ despair over breaking the news to his sons and Diana’s lament about being a “persona non grata” at Balmoral.
While the series will dramatize the last conversation between the Princes and their mother, it is important to note that this depiction will be a fictionalized interpretation rather than a true reflection of the actual exchange.
In episode four of the series, Diana is portrayed as feeling frustrated while in Paris with Dodi and eager to return to the UK to see her sons. After missing one opportunity to speak with them on the phone, Diana finally manages to have a call with Prince William and Prince Harry, where they ask her if she’s going to marry the son of billionaire Mohamed Al-Fayed.
However, it is important to note that while Prince William and Prince Harry did share a phone call with their mother on the last day she was alive, their recollections of the call do not align with the Netflix series’ depiction. In a 2017 documentary titled “Diana: Our Mother,” the Princes discussed for the first time the details of their “desperately rushed” final call with the late royal.
Recalling the chat, they expressed their regret that they were eager to go back outside and play with their cousins, who were also at Balmoral, rather than focusing on the conversation with their mother. This suggests that the portrayal of the phone call in the Netflix series may have taken creative liberties to heighten the dramatic tension.
The latest season of “The Crown” delves into the emotional aftermath of Princess Diana’s tragic death in 1997. In a poignant scene, Princes William and Harry recall their final phone conversation with their mother while she was on vacation in Paris. The princes express their profound regret over the brevity of that call, wishing they had savored those precious moments and expressed their sentiments more fully.
Prince Harry laments, “I can’t really, necessarily, remember what I said. But all I do remember is probably, you know, regretting for the rest of my life how short the phone call was. And if I’d known that was the last time I was going to speak to my mother – the things I would have said to her.” Prince William echoes this sentiment, stating, “Harry and I were in a desperate rush to say goodbye, you know, ‘see you later’.”
The emotional first four episodes of the series chronicle the tragic car crash in Paris that claimed the lives of Princess Diana, her lover Dodi, and their chauffeur Henri Paul. It also portrays the Royal Family’s reaction to this devastating event and the idyllic summer holiday Diana and Dodi enjoyed in St. Tropez prior to the tragedy.
The upcoming season of “The Crown” on Netflix delves into the aftermath of Princess Diana’s tragic death, exploring its profound impact on the royal family. While the exact moment of her passing is not recreated due to sensitivity concerns, the series features controversial scenes where Prince Charles engages in imaginary conversations with Diana on the royal plane and when she appears before the Queen.
Critics have labeled these scenes as “farcical” for portraying Diana as a ghost, but the series creator, Peter Morgan, clarified that it was not the intention. Instead, these sequences aim to depict Diana’s enduring presence in the minds of those she left behind.
The final six episodes, scheduled for release in December, will chronicle the family’s journey beyond Diana’s death, including the blossoming romance between Prince William and Kate Middleton at St. Andrews University, culminating with the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles in April 2005.
Netflix’s decision to conclude the series at this point was intentional, as explained by the streaming platform’s boss, Ted Sarandos. By stopping nearly 20 years before the present day, the series maintains a historical perspective rather than delving into journalistic territory, preserving a sense of dignity.
